Jack Buck Logan Bearden ENC 1145 10/13/13 Harry Potter and Class: An Extension or a Creation?

Throughout history, different cultures and societies have had different types of social norms, hierarchies, religious beliefs, and forms of government. These standards of each society define the way individual peoples behave, what they believe, what they should expect, and more importantly, how they interact with other people. Most societies and cultures seem to be and have been permeated by some sort of class system, or as Jones relays, a culture that contains social class or which is a class society (Jones 161). For the past two decades, J.K Rowling has been praised for representing different historic and often controversial topics in her Harry Potter books. For example, in the books, the Wizarding World is a society that has and uses slavery. This idea, however, did not come from J.K Rowlings society in which she was brought up in (British society), and because slavery is a thing of the past, J.K Rowling only has second hand experience. J.K Rowling, does however have experience with living in a class society, which is that of British society. In the Harry Potter books, it is quite clear that the Wizarding World is also a class society, and in this paper, I argue that the Wizarding World is a class society with a strong connection to J.K Rowlings own world in which she was brought up in. By analyzing class structure in these two societies, we can see whether or not this class system is beneficial or malevolent to the people who live under it, and whether or not we actually need this form of society. Before we can compare the British class system with the Wizarding Worlds class system, we must first determine just exactly what a class system or society is and how it relates

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to Great Britain. According to R.J Barry Jones, class society has two definitions. The first definition is that of Marxists definition, which as Jones relays, is a group of people with a common relationship to the structures of political and economic power within a particular society (Jones 161). The second definition is a Weberian perspective, where class society is a group of individuals who are categorized according to common socioeconomic indicators that are termed life chances (Jones 161). The main difference between these two definitions is that the Weberian perspective argues that class society is not only based off similar economic factors, but also similar social and cultural factors, whilst the Marxist perspective states that a class is shared through the power politically and also economically. Basically, the Marxist perspective views class society as a hierarchy of power, whilst the Weberian perspective views class society as a separation of people into groups based on their economic and cultural similarities. In the case of Great Britain, I think the second definition is more accurate to describe its class system, and which most current sociologists agree with, as can be seen in the Great British Class Survey (Miles). The Great British Class Survey asked its participants questions based on social, political, and economic capital. These results allowed sociologists to generate seven distinct classes based on the factors in the questions asked. Andrew Miles explains how the surveys questions could be used to generate these seven different classes: We demonstrate the existence of an elite, whose wealth separates them from an established middle class, as well as a class of technical experts and a class of new affluent workers. We also show that at the lower levels of the class structure, alongside an ageing traditional working class, there is a precariat characterised by very low levels of capital, and a group of emergent service workers. We think that this new seven class

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model recognises both social polarisation in British society and class fragmentation in its middle layers. (Miles) This survey shows readers that British society, according to Miles, is still characterized by class, and that class in Great Britain is formed by many factors including socioeconomic indicators, as the Weberian perspective declares. The survey also shows us, as Miles explains, how the middle class has become fragmented based on social and cultural factors, whilst the lower and upper classes have become even more polarized, both socially and economically. There is no doubt that the Wizarding World has a class system, as J.K Rowling herself states in an interview with Oprah Winfrey (Winfrey 2001). However, it is possible that this class system is a creation in the mind of Rowling herself, or its based off the world in which Rowling grew up in. To see how this class system is in relation to the British class system, we must now analyze the class system in the Harry Potter books. Rachel LaBozetta describes the class system in the books as a separation into three classes. The upper class, which consists of pure-blood wizards and possibly some half-blood wizards, the middle class, which consists of half-bloods, muggle borns, and blood traitors, and the lower class, which consists of Muggle-borns, halfbreeds/part-humans, Squibs, Muggles, and other races (Bozetta, Sociology of Harry Potter 101). In this editorial, LaBozetta links class with race, saying they are interchangeable and she insinuates that class is not based on family heritage or wealth but on the type of race a person is. This system doesnt seem to fit, however, as this analysis of class does not take into account the fact that the muggle and wizarding worlds are completely separate. The upper class, which consists of mostly pure-blood wizards, does not control or even influence part of the lower classes in Labozettas analysis. For example, on a daily basis, Pure-bloods have no interaction with muggles in the non-wizarding world, just as Americans have no interaction with the

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Chinese on a daily basis. This means that humans are completely separate from the wizarding society, and they have their own society in which they have their own class system and social norms. This is the same case as other races, because they too have their own social structures. For example, the Centaurs live in their own form of society, which is separate from the wizarding society. Yes, the wizarding world does exert influence on the centaurs through laws and regulations, but this does not affect the general makeup of centaur society. This form of influence could be compared to the same influence exerted onto Germany after WW1 with war reparations. The Tripple Entente did force laws and restrictions on Germany, but this did not change German society. In the wizarding world, Pure-bloods then, cannot be considered the upper class, as both the Weberian and Marxist views on class society would prove this false, because each class must be connected to one another, and they must at least exert influence on each other (Jones). If anything, LaBozettas analysis of the wizarding society is an analysis of racism or nationalism and conflict between different nationals and races. Thus, Labozetta shows us then that the class system in the Harry Potter world, when using the Weberian or Marxist perspectives, is not a class system based on race or nationality. To develop a clear analysis of the society in the Harry Potter world, we should look at specific examples of this in the Harry Potter books. One of the first examples we see in the entire series is actually one of Harry Potters first experiences with the wizarding world itself. In chapter 5 of the Philosophers Stone, Harry meets Draco Malfoy, who talks about the importance of traditional families going to Hogwarts. He says: "I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname, anyway? (61). Its

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interesting to note that Draco asks Harry what his surname is. This indicates that it is of importance to know the wizarding family one is related to or in. The way Malfoy talks of this, shows that he looks down on families who arent well known. Thus, Malfoy is establishing himself to be a part of a superior social class based on his last name. In archaic Britian, we can see this through the use of arranged marriages, and even in modern Britain, this can be seen to a lesser extent in the fact that most upper class people wouldnt want to mingle with those of a lower class. Later on in the book, in chapter 6, we see another interaction between Draco and Harry. Draco tells Harry specifically, "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there (Philosophers Stone 86). In context, Draco is talking about Rons family, and how it is below the right sort of family. This particular passage shows the audience that being in a certain class doesnt have everything to do about blood percentage, per se, but it is more about the family one belongs to, because even though the the Weasleys are pure-blood, Malfoy interacts with them as if they were a lower class. This indicates that the class structure is more than just based on family heritage and staying within a certain class, rather, even mixing with other classes can effects ones status. This is reminiscent of the old class society in archaic Britain, where the aristocracy would only partner with other people in the aristocracy. This can be seen as similar in the wizarding world, as Draco informs Harry not to associate with the wrong sort of people, referring to the Weasley family, and the lower class Hagrid (Rowling 61). Therefore, this aspect of the wizarding world is very similar to British society, as even today, to a certain extent, mixing between polarized classes isnt seen favorably. A specific theme that can be deduced from reading the Harry Potter books is that the class system is influenced by the modern equal rights society it is in. For the wizards in Britain,

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at least, it appears that under law, no matter if you are pureblood or muggle born, you have the same rights as one another. Thus, this effects how the classes interact with one another. Obviously, each class is still separate, but other than social or cultural interests, and economic state, everyone has the same political power, at the basic level. Therefore, like in modern Britain, the upper class may have reservations or distaste for the lower classes, and the lower and middle classes may resent the upper classes for their economic and/or social stability, but neither class can exert influence or action on one another. Another example or similarity that the Wizarding World class system has with the British class system is that it is also based on the economic situation of the family (Miles). In Chapter 4 of the Chamber of Secrets, Lucius Malfoy and Arthur Weasley encounter each other in the store. Lucius analyzes one of Arthurs books, which is old and dirty, and then he makes a quip against the Weasley family. Here, Rowling uses this situation to demonstrate many of the different aspects that makes up the Wizarding society: Busy time at the Ministry, I hear, said Mr. Malfoy. All those raids . . . I hope theyre paying you overtime? He reached into Ginnys cauldron and extracted, from amid the glossy Lockhart books, a very old, very battered copy of A Beginners Guide to Transfiguration. Obviously not, Mr. Malfoy said. Dear me, whats the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they dont even pay you well for it? (Chamber of Secrets, 62). Here, Lucius refers to both the dire economic situation of the Weasley family, and the fact that Mr. Weasley is associating with and trying to make laws with muggles. This shows us that the upper class, at least in Lucius eyes, must be secure financially, and they must not mingle with muggles or members of the other lower classes (i.e muggle-borns). In modern Britain, this could

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be seen as the same as an upper class person associating and having friends with peoples from the lower classes. They may have to work with those people in workplace environment, like Arthur and Lucius do at the Ministry of magic. Another interesting aspect of the class system in the Harry Potter world that pops up is when Hagrid consoles Arthur a little bit after he fights with Lucius. Hagrid interacts with Arthur here: Yeh shouldve ignored him, Arthur, said Hagrid, almost lifting Mr. Weasley off his feet as he straightened his robes. Rotten ter the core, the whole family, everyone knows that no Malfoys worth listenin ter bad blood, thats what it is come on now lets get outta here (Chamber of secrets, 63). This is interesting because even Hagrid, who is considered to be very lower class, and generally disgraced, mentions the notion of the blood of the Malfoy family. This is similar to Modern Britain, where people might joke about the upper class having blue blood. This also shows the readers that class and family heritage is important or at least significant even to the lower class Hagrid. As the Harry Potter books indicate, it does appear that the Wizarding World is influenced by the real British world from which J.K Rowling comes from. In turn, this means that Rowling does appear to have written the books through the lens of British society. We can clearly see that wizards interact with one another differently based on what class they are in, as we can see in the interactions between Malfoy and Potter. The class system has also proven to be a system based on socioeconomic factors, as the Weasley family wouldnt be considered upper class because of their poor economic situation, and socially, because of their choice to support, study, and befriend muggles and muggle-borns. We can also see clearly that the system is based off a family heritage, like that of the aristocracy in England, because focus is given on peoples last names, even among those who arent upper class. This can be seen when everyone refers to

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associates or acquaintances by their last name. This is similar to British society, with the exception of the omission of Mr., Miss., or sir. All of this leads to one question: is this form of society right or wrong? It is difficult to analyze this question, because arguments could be given for both sides. On the one hand, it is an individual persons choice to associate with certain people and act in their own way. In this regard, to truly reach a classless society, that society would have to be based on a communist system to eliminate differentiation in economic statuses, but even then, classes could be generated on social and political factors. For real world evidence of this, one only has to look at the striking and controversial example of Rwanda, where the Tutsis and Hutus were created almost entirely fictionally by the Dutch to better manage the country and to pit the people against one another. The Dutch placed the Tutsis in the upper class of the country, and the only difference between the two classes was that the Tutsis held the power. In this class society, the main and only foundation of the two classes was based on political factors. In the beginning, the Tutsis were not socially or economically different than the Hutus, they were just given political power. This real world example shows how even in a neutral or near equal society, classes can be created without economic or social differentiation. Because of this, it could be argued that classes will always exist, because people will naturally be different than one another, and associate themselves with people in their likeness. Whether or not this is morale still remains to be questioned. Most modernists would add that it is acceptable, only if people are all equal. However, opponents could argue that classes themselves eliminate equality, because individuals would discriminate against members of other classes or against those who are not like themselves. All of these could be argued to make valid points, and in the end, more research would have to be done to determine the actual morality or even the effects of living in different

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types of class societies. In regards to the Wizarding Worlds society, and as I have argued, British society, I believe that it is ultimately moral because people are not forced into classes by law. People are merely exercising their freedoms of speech and expression by associating themselves with who they want to associate themselves with. I think it would not be moral if the government placed you into a class, but under British law, everyone is equal, and thus, the classes are only created by tradition and the people themselves.

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Work Cited Class, definition of. Routledge Encyclopedia of International Political Economy. 1st ed. 2001. Print LaBozetta, Rachel. Sociology of Harry Potter 101. Editorial. Muggle Net. 7 Oct, 2008: Net. Miles, Andrew et al. "A New Model Of Social Class? Findings From The BBCS Great British Class Survey Experiment." Sociology 47.2 (2013): 219-250. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. Rowling, J.K.. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. London: Bloomsbury Pub. 1998. Print. Rowling, J. K.. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. London: Bloomsbury Pub. 1997. Print. Winfrey, Oprah. "J.K. Rowling's Books That Made a Difference." The Oprah Magazine. 2001. Print.